Fisherman and his dog rescued after four hours in water

A Kerry community rescue service which rescued a fishing vessel skipper and his dog when their boat sank yesterday said lifejacket use was crucial in the successful outcome.

However, it warned everyone taking to the water should have some means of communication with them, preferably a VHF radio.

The Derrynane Inshore Rescue Service responded to an incident reported between Lamb’s Head and Rath yesterday, when the Sneem-based fishing boat The Sherky struck rocks and sank at around 11am.

The alarm wasn’t raised until 3pm, four hours after the sinking, when the rescue service’s coxswain spotted the man in the water.

By that time he had almost reached shore, having swum in his lifejacket and rested from time to time on rocks.

However, the dog was still close to the sunken vessel and it was rescued by the lifeboat.